1. Your category in Kazakhstan
Pick your category and this section shows what we actually hold for Kazakhstan: how many potential buyers we have verified, what roles they play in the supply chain, and how well they fit. Switch back to All industries at any time.
“Potential buyers” means the buyers we have verified and listed in our own directory — not every importer in the country. Buyer roles are our own grouping of the roles recorded in that directory. (3 of these records do not yet carry a recorded buyer role.)
2. Entry gate
Kazakhstan's access rules are set in Moscow as much as in Astana: as an EAEU member it applies the union's common external tariff and its technical regulations, so one compliance file covers the whole bloc. The hard gate is the EAC mark — low-voltage and EMC products must conform to TR CU 004/2011 and TR CU 020/2011, and the mark has to be applied before the goods arrive, not retrofitted at the border. The sequencing trap is that conformity is a real assessment process with a lead time, so a shipment booked before the document is issued will sit. Because the country is landlocked, the customs file and the rail booking move together. Get the EAEU file first; everything else follows.
| Requirement | Status | What it involves | Lead time | Cost | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAEU technical conformity | Mandatory (listed goods) | Products in scope need conformity to the EAEU technical regulations — for power electronics mainly TR CU 004/2011 (low-voltage equipment) and TR CU 020/2011 (electromagnetic compatibility). Depending on the category this takes the form of a certificate of conformity issued by an accredited body or a declaration of conformity registered in the union system. | Pending | Pending | Pending |
| EAC mark | Mandatory | Once conformity is established, the Eurasian Conformity (EAC) mark must be applied legibly to the product or its packaging before it enters the EAEU. This is the single biggest difference from the other Central Asian states, which each run their own certification regimes. | Pending | — | Pending |
| Importer of record | Always applies | Goods are declared into the EAEU customs territory by a resident importer under the union's common external tariff. A non-resident seller cannot act as importer of record; appoint a Kazakh importer or distributor who can hold the conformity documents. | Pending | Pending | Pending |
| Tariff (MFN) | Always applies | Average applied MFN tariff around 4.8%; the rate depends on the HS line and must be confirmed line by line at HS-code level. | — | On customs value | Pending |
| Tariff (preference) | Not available | There is no free trade agreement between China and the EAEU, so Chinese-origin goods pay the EAEU common external tariff — a weighted mean of about 4.8%. Rates depend on the HS line; confirm the exact rate for your code. | — | — | Pending |
| VAT | Always applies | 12% standard rate, charged on the customs value plus duty at the point of import. A VAT-registered Kazakh importer can normally offset it against output VAT; confirm the treatment with the importer before pricing. | — | 12% | Pending |
| Labelling | Mandatory | Labels must carry the EAC mark and the product information required by the applicable technical regulation, in Russian or Kazakh. The certificate or declaration reference must match the shipment. | Pending | — | Pending |
Certification, tariff and clearance figures change. Every row above carries a verification date, and the current requirement is confirmed with your nominated local agent before each shipment.
3. Buyers and channel partners
Leading buyers and channel partners
How to use this list: do not mass-mail. Kazakh purchasing is specification-led and compliance-led — open with the EAEU conformity route for your product and your certification partner, then discuss price. A distributor who already holds EAC documentation and a service network is worth more than a larger buyer without one.
4. Demand and import profile
Select your HS code and this block shows the import performance of your own category in Kazakhstan — not the country's macro numbers.
Import size & growth
Example: imports of this category run at a double-digit share of the market's total and are growing faster than overall imports.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Source-country mix
Example: China is the largest source, ahead of regional and EU suppliers.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Price band
Example: the mid price band is where Chinese supply competes; the low band is held by regional producers.
Example values · to be replaced with customs / trade data
What we can supply to this market
These are the lines we have found the strongest fit for Kazakhstan. Specifications are on the product pages; tell us your application and we will confirm the model.
5. Landed-cost calculator
A static table cannot persuade anyone. Enter your own numbers and see the landed cost. Duty rate and freight are editable so you can test scenarios.
Your shipment
Estimated landed cost
Illustrative calculation only. It excludes anti-dumping duty, excise, port storage and any category-specific surcharge. Confirm the duty rate and local charges with your forwarder before making a commitment.
6. Logistics and customs
Transit times and clearance days change with border congestion and policy; treat them as indicative and confirm before quoting.
7. Payment, currency and tax
8. Localisation and communication
These are the details nobody tells you, and one mistake can cost you a customer.
9. Risks and timing
Frequently asked questions
Do I need EAC certification for my product?
If it is in scope of an EAEU technical regulation, yes. Low-voltage and EMC goods fall under TR CU 004/2011 and TR CU 020/2011. Depending on the category you need a certificate of conformity from an accredited body or a declaration of conformity registered in the union system.
What is the EAC mark and where does it go?
It is the Eurasian Conformity mark, required once conformity is established. It must be applied legibly to the product or its packaging before the goods enter the EAEU — it cannot be added at the border.
Can I be the importer of record myself?
No. The goods are declared by a resident importer into the EAEU customs territory. Most exporters sell through a Kazakh distributor or agent who holds the conformity documents and files the declaration.
What is the import duty on my product?
Kazakhstan applies the EAEU common external tariff, with a weighted mean of about 4.8%. There is no free trade agreement with China, so Chinese-origin goods pay the standard rate. Confirm the exact rate for your HS line.
How much is VAT on imports?
12% standard rate, charged on the customs value plus duty. A VAT-registered Kazakh importer can normally offset it; confirm the treatment with the importer before pricing.
Which route should I use?
Kazakhstan has no sea port. Most cargo crosses at Khorgos or Dostyk–Alashankou by rail from China. For onward European traffic the Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk add a sea leg.